hey there everyone,
As you might've guessed from the heading, I've got a TON of stuff coming
up. I'll try and keep it as tight 'n brief as possible (not my forte,
especially when excited), but there's lots to tell you about. There's
also a coupla guest list giveaways scattered throughout as treats and a
way to thank those of you who read these little info-riddled e-outs and
support my many projects, gigs, and events.
A special shout and thank-you goes to those of you who voted in the Eye
weekly Reader's Choice Awards and granted me the title of 'Best Club DJ'
again this year. I truly am surprised every time this happens...I mean,
I'm a politically motivated grrrl DJ who generally plays leftfield stuff
in more midsized clubs and lounges, not exactly the path that generally
leads to mass acceptance! Thanks for listening, going a little deeper,
and being there.
On to the nitty gritty....radio, writing, and club events.....
RADIO:
Fourteen years and counting...Mental Chatter continues to air each 'n
every Monday from 11am-2pm on CKLN 88.1fm. Each week, I work to bring
you the scoop, as well as the musical goods, plus prizes, surprises,
picks of the week, guests galore, and more (my childhood ambitions of
being a cheeseball poet are leaking through). Recent guests/interviews
have included: Fauna Flash, Bahamadia, Manitoba, Wunmi and many others.
Tune in via your radios, or follow the Real Audio and Shoutcast links:
http://ckln.sac.ryerson.ca
Don't forget, playlists for most CKLN programs (Mental Chatter included)
are now automatically added to the CKLN web site within 24 hours of
broadcast. Follow this link:
http://ckln.sac.ryerson.ca/html/chart/logdb/pl_3.html
If you're looking for more detailed playlists, including info on that
show's Pick of the Week and guests, follow this link instead:
http://ckln.sac.ryerson.ca/html/chart/MentalList.html (soon to be
updated)
On a separate note, I'm the guest host and programmer for this
Saturday's (March 31) Radio Escapade show, heard on CBC Radio Two right
across Canada. The frequency is different in every town (94.1fm in
Toronto), so check the www.radioescapade.com site if you're uncertain.
For Real Audio and other methods of live audio streaming, check:
http://cbc.ca/audio.html and head to the Radio Two feed. I'll send out
the playlist from this show next week. Enjoy!
WRITING:
In the last month of my Extended Play column in Eye weekly, I've
featured San Francisco's Soulstice (OM Records, March 8 issue); local,
innovative d&b crew Intimate (March 15); brilliant local producer
Manitoba whose releases on the UK's Leaf Label are currently catching
the ear of many a global fan/DJ/scribe (March 22); and Philly's
wonderful, witty and truly unique hip-hop head Bahamadia (current
issue). If you're interested in checking these pieces (or my Beats Per
Week listings section), surf on over to www.eye.net and head to The Beat
section in the issue you're looking for (all issues of Eye are archived
by date on the site).
Also, check the brand new April ish of Exclaim magazine (www.exclaim.ca)
for a piece I've done on the aforementioned Manitoba (Leaf Label). I
really do think his music is incredible, at once both off-kilter and
accessible...kinda like an Amon Tobin, but working in a different
direction. There are also reviews I've written of albums by Pilote
('Doitnowman' on Certificate 18), Ian Simmonds ('Return to X' on K7),
Terry Callier ('Alive' on Mr. Bongo), and more. Plus all the other
Exclaim goodies, scribes, stories, reviews...and details of the annual
cross-country parties (April 14 in Toronto).
CLUB GIGS:
Glide Wednesdays continue weekly at Gypsy Co-op, with Andrew Allsgood
and I throwing down nu jazz, dub, downtempo, deep house, beats, soulful
abstract grooves and a whole lot more. The Gypsy crew have been working
to freshen up the five-year-young space a little, so drop by some time
to enjoy the new, comfy furniture, colours, and livened up funky
coziness that the club/lounge/restaurant is known for. BTW, this coming
Wednesday (April 4), we're hosting a listening party for a new,
double-CD compilation called Private Lounge, out mid April via France's
Inca label (Distribution Select here in Canada). The comp features
artists ranging from NuSpirit Helsinki, Jaffa and Chateau Flight to Amon
Tobin, Beanfield, Kevin Yost, Smith & Mighty, the Rurals and more. We'll
be featuring the comp from 9-10:30pm or so plus offering up some prizes
'n more. No cover for this one and Andrew and I go late into the night.
Other gig activities:
Saturday March 31 ~ Bang at System Soundbar
DJ's Evil P + Blueprint + Denise Benson + Michael Drury
at System Soundbar, 117 Peter St. ~ $10 b4 midnight, $15 after
I'll be making my System debut tomorrow evening, dropping the uptempo
musical goods in the backroom, alongside the Blueprint boys. To find us,
head through the main doors, then go straight to the back of the club...
voila! there you'll have the back room. I'll be spinning from roughly
1am for an hour and a half of so, bouncing back 'n forth with the
Blueprint guys who are wicked talents in their own right. DJ Evil P
spins a marathon 10 hour set in the main room while Michael Drury is in
the VIP room. I have lots of room on the guest list to invite
ya'll.....just hit me back with an enote requesting guest list (by 3pm
Saturday) and make sure you're at System before midnight as they close
the guest list then. See ya there!
Thurs. April 5 ~ Rise Up: music.dance.culture of resistance
DJ's Denise Benson + Nav + Sassa'le + Chocolate + Marcus ++
Zen Lounge, 526 Queen St. W. ~ $5 at the door ~ opens at 9pm
It's the Ism Schism benefit party! As one of the party's organizers puts
it, this event "brings some of this cities favourite DJ's together to
help build awareness and progressive consciousness through music and
dance. The proceeds will help send buses of U of T students to Quebec
City to join the thousands that will be there to protest the Summit of
the Americas and the proposed Free Trade Agreement of the Americas which
promises to wreck havoc on this continent's environment, public
institutions and cultural industries." Come out, dance, support...and
find out more about the planned protests in Quebec City. Other DJ's
include: Katikata, G. Carolan, and Dr. Dripp, with two rooms of widely
varying sounds.
Saturday April 7 ~ Savour: Intimate Session & b-day bash
w/ DJ's denise benson + Wasabi
at B-Side, 129 Peter St. (above Fez Batik) ~ $7 before 11pm, $10 after
JD and I invite ya'll to our joint b-day celebration and Aries
appreciation jam at which DJ Wasabi and I will be spinning nu jazz ï
deep & funky house ï soulful grooves ï reggae ï d&b ï UK garage & more.
We'll run from 10pm 'til 3am, and it's free for all Aries (with proof of
birthdate of course) before 11pm. All women, trans people and our
friends are more than welcome. For more info: mentalchatter@sympatico.ca
or 416.760-6110. The first two people to hit me back with a request for
guest list will win a pair of tickets each.
I think that about does it for this round. Lots more stuff coming in
April, so I'll pass ya'll a brief mid-month report with that info! As
always, thanks everyone for the interest and support. Take care. xo
If you would prefer not to be on this mailing list, just lemme know and
off your name shall go! Thanks!
-db-
-- -denise benson-Radio & Club DJ: 'Mental Chatter' ï Mondays 11am-2pm, CKLN 88.1FM (Toronto) (playlists & RealAudio feed: http://ckln.sac.ryerson.ca) 'Glide' ï Wednesdays @ Gypsy Co-op, 817 Queen St. W.
Writer: Eye Weekly ï 'Extended Play' and 'Beats Per Week' ï www.eye.net Exclaim Magazine ï features & reviews ï www.exclaim.ca The People Have Spoken (TPHS) magazine ï Music Editor
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